Printing machine having ink-ribbon reinking means



Jan. 31, 1961 w. .1. LONG 2,969,865

PRINTING MACHINE HAVING INK-RIBBON REINKING MEANS Filed May 16, 1960 United rates Patent PRINTING MACHINE HAVING -RIBBON REINKIN G MEANS William J. Long, Framingham, Mass., assignor to Dennlson Manufacturing Company, Framingham, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Filed May 16, 1960, Ser. No. 29,195

3 Claims. (Cl. 197-171) This invention is applicable to any printing machine employing an ink ribbon, such as typewriters, tag printers and the like, and has for its objects to keep the ink ribbon supplied with ink without removing the ribbon from the machine and to prevent the ribbon from being over-inked.

According to this invention the machine has feed and take-up reels for the ribbon mounted side by side with a space therebetween and with their axes approximately horizontal, an ink roller bridging the aforesaid space with its axis approximately parallel to the aforesaid axes and resting on the rolls of ribbon on the reels, the ribbon feeding to and from the reels so as to rotate them in the same direction and therefore rotate the ink roller, and means to lift the ink roller off the ribbon rolls. The means for lifting the ink roller preferably comprises a cradle movable vertically in the aforesaid space between the reels. In the preferred embodiment the machine is motor driven through an electrical circuit and the means for controlling the ink roller comprises an electromagnet connected in the aforesaid circuit so as to lower the ink roller into contact with the ribbon rolls when the machine starts, with means for lifting the ink roller off the rolls of ribbon when the machine is stopped by opening the circuit.

For the purpose of illustration a typical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a diagrammatic view showing the ink roller lifted out of operative position;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the roller in operative position; and

Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section of the printing roller.

For the purpose of illustration the invention is shown as applied to a tag printing machine such as shown in the patent to Flood 1,980,576, granted November 13, 1934. As fully disclosed in that patent the machine comprises a printing wheel W having printing characters on its periphery, means for feeding the printing tickets T into printing position over the wheel and a platen P movable to and from the wheel for pinching the tickets therebetween. Trained over the wheel between the ticket and the wheel is an ink ribbon R which feeds back and forth between the ribbon reels 1 and 2 in the usual manner. The ribbon is held out of contact with the periphery of the printing wheel by means of a cylindrical casing 3 which has a gap opposite the platen to permit the ribbon to be pinched between the ticket and wheel. Further details of the printing machine of the aforesaid patent are unnecessary for the purpose of this disclosure.

According to this invention an ink roller 4 is disposed in the space between the two reels 1 and 2, the roller roller off the rolls of ribbon when the machine stops..

The cradle 6 is controlled by solenoid 8 which lowers the cradle to the position shown in Fig. 2 when the sole-- noid is energized. If the ink roller were left in con-- tact with the ribbon rolls when the machine stops ink. would be transmitted to the ribbon in excess and un-- evenly.

While the ink roller may be constructed in various ways a typical embodiment is shown in Fig. 3 where 9 is a porous cylindrical ink container having its endsclosed with plugs 11 and a relatively soft covering 12.. The cylinder 9 is preferably made of cunno filter material of approximately 25 micron density and the covering 12 of #000 cotton or nylon sleeve material. The cylinder 9 may be filled with ink from time to time by removing one of the plugs 11.

As shown in Fig. l the solenoid 8 is preferably connected in the same circuit as the motor M which drives the machine so that the solenoid is deenergized when the: machine is stopped or when current fails. As shown in; Fig. 1 the motor is started by switch S1 and the machine is started by closing a second switch S2 to operate a. clutch C. A third switch S3 is provided to render the: solenoid inoperative when desired, as for example for at time after a new ribbon has been applied to the machine.. With the 'switchS3 closed the solenoid is always energized when the two switches 51 and S2 are closed tooperate the machine and it is always deenergized when: any one of the three switches is open or when current fails.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this inven-- tion includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a printing machine of the type having an ink ribbon, the combination of feed and take-up reels for the ribbon mounted side by side with a space therebetween and with their axes approximately horizontal, an ink roller bridging said space with its axis approximately parallel to said axes and resting on the rolls of ribbon on said reels, the ribbon feeding to and from said reels so as to rotate them in the same direction and therefore rotate the ink roller, and means to lift the ink roller off the ribbon rolls.

2. A machine according to claim 1 wherein said means comprises a cradle for said ink roller, the cradle being movable vertically in said space.

3. In a printing machine of the motor-driven type operated through an electrical circuit, the combination of feed and take-up reels for the ribbon mounted side by side with a space therebetween, and with their axes approximately parallel, an ink roller bridging said space with its axis approximately parallel to said axes and resting on the rolls of ribbon on said reels, the ribbon feeding to and from said reels so as to rotate them in the same direction and therefore rotate the ink roller, means to lift the ink roller off the ribbon rolls, and an electromagnet for counteracting said lifting means to cause the ink roller to rest on said rolls, the electromagnet being connected in said circuit so as to be inoperative when tl.e machine stops.

No references cited. 

